How are canines more closely related to bears and weasels than to cats?

Within the order Carnivora, terrestrial families are traditionally organized into two distinct superfamilies: Canoidea and Feloidea (or Aeluroidea). This classification, which dates back to the late 1800s, reflects evolutionary relationships inferred from the fossil record and comparative anatomy.1

Canines (family Canidae) are grouped within the superfamily Canoidea, alongside bears (Ursidae), raccoons (Procyonidae), and weasels (Mustelidae). In contrast, cats (family Felidae) are placed in the superfamily Feloidea, which also includes civets and hyenas.1

While the taxonomy of carnivores remains a subject of ongoing study and flux, this division into two superfamilies serves as a natural arrangement that separates the dog-like carnivores (Canoidea) from the cat-like carnivores (Feloidea).1